Awards $1.3 Million Grant to Louisiana for Coastal Restoration

Louisiana Receives Grant for Orleans Land Bridge Shoreline Protection and Marsh Creation Project
The MMS has awarded a $1.3 million grant to the State of Louisiana through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) for the Orleans Land Bridge Shoreline Protection and Marsh Creation project. The project will build approximately 50,000 feet of rock breakwater and restore approximately 220 acres of marsh with dredged material in the Golden Triangle area bounded by the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, the Intracoastal Waterway and the western shore of Lake Borgne in Orleans Parish. (07/28/2008)

MMS Moving Forward With Alternative Energy Leases on the Outer Continental Shelf

The MMS announced today that it is proceeding with the consultation and analyses necessary to move toward the issuance of limited leases under its interim policy for authorizing alternative energy data collection and technology testing activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

MMS announced its interim policy in November 2007 to jumpstart basic information gathering efforts relating to development of OCS alternative energy resources such as wind, waves, and ocean currents as authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). (07/23/2008)

WASHINGTON

In a complimentary move, MMS renamed its Offshore Minerals Management program as the Offshore Energy and Minerals Management (OEMM) Program. The name change reflects MMS's expanded authority to regulate alternative energy on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), in accordance with Energy Policy Act of 2005. The new alternative energy office will now directly report to the Associate Director for OEMM. (07/10/2008)